This is a discussion on How do you analyse other players? within the online poker forums, in the Learning Poker section; I'm interested to know how you analyse other players and how it affects your decion when calling, raising or folding.
On what do you focus?

I'm interested to know how you analyse other players and how it affects your decion when calling, raising or folding.

On what do you focus?

Im talking here about poker without using HUD.

Thanks!

Edit: Online Poker

#2

1st December 2013, 1:03 AM

missjacki [2,251]

Poker at: ACR

Game: NLHE, Big-O

I do not use a HUD

I start with the 2 players to my left and the 1 player to my right, as these are the players I'm most likely to get into hands with. I am looking for things like:

How often do they play a hand (loose or tight)
Are the normally raising or re-raising? or are they normally checking, calling or folding? (aggressive or passive).
What is their standard preflop raise size and does it ever change?
How do they react to a 3 bet?
Do they play more hands in position?
How do they play post flop? Do they Cbet? Do they "fit or fold" on the flop?

Once I've got a pretty good idea of how the players nearest me are playing, I pay attention to who are the most active players at the table, since they are the other players I'm most likely to play hands with.

Finally, I start paying attention to the remaining players and usually more interested in those to my left.

#3

1st December 2013, 3:21 AM

LongJohn45 [31]

Online Poker at: Bovada

Game: holdem

there are many different players out there. For the most part, you want to over-estimate a players strength. Dont assume a player is weak or will make the same mistake twice.

A beer in the hand is worth two in the fridge.

#4

1st December 2013, 2:39 PM

kmichaels [156]

Normally i focus on little but important thing like bet size pattern; range of hands they play; the time they take to play. Any player to have success have to pay attention to those things.
Like Doyle Brunson once a time said: " Pay attention and it will pay you".

Basic of poker, truly.

#5

1st December 2013, 3:01 PM

sleepymike [107]

Game: holdem

Also if 2 players tend to be battling each other, this tends to lead to abnormal betting from these players.

#6

1st December 2013, 3:12 PM

Blobweird123 [2,468]

Poker at: Bovada

Game: nlhe

Quote:

Originally Posted by missjacki

I do not use a HUD

I start with the 2 players to my left and the 1 player to my right, as these are the players I'm most likely to get into hands with. I am looking for things like:

How often do they play a hand (loose or tight)
Are the normally raising or re-raising? or are they normally checking, calling or folding? (aggressive or passive).
What is their standard preflop raise size and does it ever change?
How do they react to a 3 bet?
Do they play more hands in position?
How do they play post flop? Do they Cbet? Do they "fit or fold" on the flop?

Once I've got a pretty good idea of how the players nearest me are playing, I pay attention to who are the most active players at the table, since they are the other players I'm most likely to play hands with.

Finally, I start paying attention to the remaining players and usually more interested in those to my left.

We will be in hands with players on our left and right evenly enough. Think about it, we are BTN or CO, we are getting in tons of hands vs the blinds (to our left) and also vs MP/CO (to our right). As long as we have position. So we need to analyse everyone.

#7

1st December 2013, 3:42 PM

redcross [308]

Online Poker at: Blue chip

Game: HORSE

re: Poker & How do you analyse other players?

Everyone has their own style but here is my plan going into tourneys. At the start I will only play premium hands until I see the style of those playing around me. I usually will play 2-3 out of the first 40-50 hands. This usually puts me behind but the entire time I become accustomed to styles and tendencies of those playing around me. By this time blinds are worth more and I know where I can steal a blind from, and when to get out. Not going to lie this is not the funniest way to begin a tourney, but it's always more fun then getting bounced early.

#8

1st December 2013, 8:20 PM

missjacki [2,251]

Poker at: ACR

Game: NLHE, Big-O

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blobweird123

We will be in hands with players on our left and right evenly enough. Think about it, we are BTN or CO, we are getting in tons of hands vs the blinds (to our left) and also vs MP/CO (to our right). As long as we have position. So we need to analyse everyone.

Yes of course we need to analyze everyone. I am just prioritizing because when you sit down at a new table you can't just download the player tendencies, it trickles in...by focusing first in the players I'm most likely to play in pots with, the info I gain is put to use more quickly.

I focus more on players to my left because they'll have position on me and it's rough playing out of position so any extra info helps.

But yes, by the time you've been at the table 30-60 mins you should know all the players

#9

2nd December 2013, 3:14 AM

Frankie6636 [99]

Online Poker at: bovada

Game: Razz

Its really hard to do online. I only do it in person. When in person I look for tells such as smiling, playing with hair and also nervousness.

#10

6th December 2013, 7:51 PM

JamaicanKid [497]

Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Holdem

use the note option ... watch the hand replay...obverse how often a player plays and wat kinna hands they do play....no u the aggressors are the table....play the hand and not the player

#11

6th December 2013, 9:17 PM

cotta777 [869]

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: holdem

As jacki mentioned in above post spot on ^

Things I look for would be reasons they call a flop and reasons they re-raise a flop - bluff nuts or draw.

great example here : I had pocket jacks in a live tournament this week just before the break and I was short stacked one caller to my raise
the flop came 9-9-10

I bet the flop and he re-raised me, I knew there was no way he was bluffing because he had only re-raised the flop once all night previously, and his calling range fits his position.
I folded jacks and he showed 9-7s
I went on to win the tournament many players would of pushed all in

#12

7th December 2013, 12:17 AM

jj20002 [778]

Poker at: pokerstars

Game: holdem

this is useful if you are playing one table

Quote:

Originally Posted by missjacki

I do not use a HUD

I start with the 2 players to my left and the 1 player to my right, as these are the players I'm most likely to get into hands with. I am looking for things like:

How often do they play a hand (loose or tight)
Are the normally raising or re-raising? or are they normally checking, calling or folding? (aggressive or passive).
What is their standard preflop raise size and does it ever change?
How do they react to a 3 bet?
Do they play more hands in position?
How do they play post flop? Do they Cbet? Do they "fit or fold" on the flop?

Once I've got a pretty good idea of how the players nearest me are playing, I pay attention to who are the most active players at the table, since they are the other players I'm most likely to play hands with.

Finally, I start paying attention to the remaining players and usually more interested in those to my left.

all this reasoning you post here is useful when playing for long with the same players in the same table, so it could be a final table in a slow tournament

but if you are playing a mtt it wonīt help to much since you will be changing tables every 10-20 hands, so you donīt have a lot hands to see or analize other players

#13

7th December 2013, 1:16 AM

missjacki [2,251]

Online Poker at: ACR

Game: NLHE, Big-O

Quote:

Originally Posted by jj20002

all this reasoning you post here is useful when playing for long with the same players in the same table, so it could be a final table in a slow tournament

but if you are playing a mtt it wonīt help to much since you will be changing tables every 10-20 hands, so you donīt have a lot hands to see or analize other players

yeah, it is definitely more useful the longer you play with the same players. I think it will be that way anytime you're bothering to study your opponents.

What do you suggest instead?

#14

7th December 2013, 1:35 AM

baudib1 [6,604]

Poker at: Full Tilt

Game: NLHE

re: Poker & How do you analyse other players?

-- how many hands they play
-- how often they raise
-- if they limp, do they limp-call or limp-fold?
-- postflop tendencies: do they like to donk, c/c or c/r when continuing past the flop?
-- make note of any time they show down a hand that you didn't have in their range
-- hands they show down in 3-bet pots are particularly interesting, or if they show up with AK or AA in a limped pot
-- how do they play draws
-- any kind of transparent betsizing tells
-- timing tells if unusual
-- country of origin, screen name, avatars

#15

7th December 2013, 1:36 AM

vinylspiros [4,368]

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: NLHE

Quote:

Originally Posted by baudib1

-- how many hands they play
-- how often they raise
-- if they limp, do they limp-call or limp-fold?
-- postflop tendencies: do they like to donk, c/c or c/r when continuing past the flop?
-- make note of any time they show down a hand that you didn't have in their range
-- hands they show down in 3-bet pots are particularly interesting, or if they show up with AK or AA in a limped pot
-- how do they play draws
-- any kind of transparent betsizing tells
-- timing tells if unusual
-- country of origin, screen name, avatars

^^^^case closed.

#16

7th December 2013, 9:11 PM

howleruz [12]

In multi table tournaments - you don't need to analyze anyone until you reach from say 10,000 players to a 100.

Reason - the tables are closed and players are re-arranged. Some people, especially in the freeroll tournaments, will go all-in and hope for the pure luck. If 3-4 people answer, the table is closed and all your analysis is gone for nothing.

So, as many tutorials teach you - keep it calm, target yourself to survive the bubble.

When you are back to short amount of players - you can start analyzing what they do.

- how much they raize
- in what position
- if showdown occurs - how often they bluff, semi-bluff
- do they raize/fold, or do they call sometimes

#17

7th December 2013, 9:14 PM

MaStErGyn [1]

Concordo!!!

#18

7th December 2013, 9:35 PM

fa1920 [15]

Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Holdem

If you're new to the table, what you have to do first of all is to observe the opponents at the table and fixed his way to play if lanterns semi-lanterns and other things are sent, if you are aggressive or conservative, or simplementes fish after you've studied it and to play with advantage, otherwise in playtime is imperative is the position if you have good cards to play them to death position, but expected to flop.

#19

8th December 2013, 1:25 AM

Poker Orifice [16,794]

Game: NLHE

I always make notes if they're sending me lanterns (or anyother unusual things sent to me).

#20

8th December 2013, 9:32 PM

missjacki [2,251]

Poker at: ACR

Game: NLHE, Big-O

am i supposed to know what lanterns are? is this a language barrier issue?

#21

8th December 2013, 9:56 PM

blakewyte [232]

Online Poker at: PokerStars

Game: Holdem

re: Poker & How do you analyse other players?

If in a tourney, I usually only start paying attention to the players when maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of the field's been eliminated (provided I last that long ).

- looking out for the players who are playing a lot of hands
- the big stack, just watching when they play (in position or oop)
- bet sizes, range

P.S what are lanterns?

#22

8th December 2013, 10:54 PM

fletchdad [7,480]

Poker at: Weddings

Game: holdem

Didnt Paul Revere play poker?

#23

9th December 2013, 12:59 AM

jj20002 [778]

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by missjacki

yeah, it is definitely more useful the longer you play with the same players. I think it will be that way anytime you're bothering to study your opponents.

What do you suggest instead?

you have to start taking notes about players you consider frequent the same mttīs, for instance, you can separate them in different categories using colors

another way is to use a software like hu2 to track you opponents and to have a better understanding of their play

a use both

#24

10th December 2013, 12:39 AM

Henry Minute [2,638]

Poker at: FullTilt

Game: holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by missjacki

am i supposed to know what lanterns are? is this a language barrier issue?

Maybe Poker Orifice means lanterns = signals. Just a guess.

#25

11th December 2013, 4:32 AM

Poker Orifice [16,794]

Game: NLHE

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henry Minute

Maybe Poker Orifice means lanterns = signals. Just a guess.

No. I meant 'lanterns' & 'semi-lanterns'.

#26

11th December 2013, 5:11 AM

Kenzie 96 [10,267]

Poker at: pokerstars

Game: holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by missjacki

am i supposed to know what lanterns are? is this a language barrier issue?

You live in Oregon & you haven't learned to speak Canadian yet?

#27

11th December 2013, 4:52 PM

Henry Minute [2,638]

Online Poker at: FullTilt

Game: holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poker Orifice

No. I meant 'lanterns' & 'semi-lanterns'.

Since even CardsChat's Poker Glossary has no entry for 'lantern' nor 'semi-lantern' I can only assume that you are speaking in foreign.

I have told you at least 20 gazillion times not to exaggerate or speak foreign!

Translation please. Pretty please.

#28

11th December 2013, 5:38 PM

ChipEaterMan [314]

Poker at: PS FT 888

Game: Holdem-Omaha

re: Poker & How do you analyse other players?

Quote:

Originally Posted by missjacki

I do not use a HUD

I start with the 2 players to my left and the 1 player to my right, as these are the players I'm most likely to get into hands with. I am looking for things like:

How often do they play a hand (loose or tight)
Are the normally raising or re-raising? or are they normally checking, calling or folding? (aggressive or passive).
What is their standard preflop raise size and does it ever change?
How do they react to a 3 bet?
Do they play more hands in position?
How do they play post flop? Do they Cbet? Do they "fit or fold" on the flop?

Once I've got a pretty good idea of how the players nearest me are playing, I pay attention to who are the most active players at the table, since they are the other players I'm most likely to play hands with.

Finally, I start paying attention to the remaining players and usually more interested in those to my left.

Interesting analysis, I observe my opponents a lot too, trying to find changes in their play

#29

18th December 2013, 4:56 PM

Tiltt2424 [78]

Online Poker at: Carbon/Bodog

Game: Holdem

I find it is helpful to take notes on betting patterns when players are the aggressor, in/oop, opening ranges and three betting ranges pf etc. Anytime a hand goes to showdown a lot of a player's game is exposed.

#30

21st December 2013, 11:12 PM

blakewyte [232]

Poker at: PokerStars

Game: Holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poker Orifice

No. I meant 'lanterns' & 'semi-lanterns'.

Ok still confused (plus, not Canadian, if this is a country/culture-specific thing).

Even checked here and here (http://www.pokerstars.com/poker/terms/glossary/).

#31

21st December 2013, 11:16 PM

el_magiciann [1,787]

Online Poker at: FTP

Game: Hold'em

By making a lot of notes, watching every hand at your table carefully even if you are not in it, and it is important to find who are the weakest and the best foes at your table and try to isolate the best one's! !

#32

31st December 2013, 7:51 PM

JamaicanKid [497]

Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Holdem

Ok..............so i'm interested to know....what are 'lanterns' and 'semi-lanterns?' Are these new poker terminologies? am I like missing something?

#33

31st December 2013, 8:08 PM

etherghost [536]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamaicanKid

Ok..............so i'm interested to know....what are 'lanterns' and 'semi-lanterns?' Are these new poker terminologies? am I like missing something?

LOL! This is definitely not canadian slang. If you trace the conversation you will see that PO was sarcastic (could be canadian vibe ) and the first one to say lanterns and semi-lanterns was the guy from Argentina. hahaha

#34

9th January 2014, 1:44 AM

adam76 [17]

There is no doubt that the very best poker players have actually taken matters even further into the mathematical realm. Some players analyse hands incredibly closely and make numerous in depth mathematical calculations to determine how they will play.

But not everyone needs to approach the game like that, particularly not beginners.

As the many PokerSchoolOnline courses progress, some of the mathematical aspects of the game will become more prominent. But at this stage, it is only really necessary to have a general idea of some of the core concepts.

One of the very easy calculations you should learn even at this stage in your poker career concerns counting your "outs".

#35

9th January 2014, 3:03 AM

jancika77 [53]

re: Poker & How do you analyse other players?

I also just take notes and replay hands. You should bet on strength of your hand and not really care about other player behavior.